I was thinking about the often used phrase “The truth can hurt, and the truth can set your free”. In the Heaven’s Truth Church (Tenrikyo), one of the truths of heaven is said to be causality. Causality is the principle that if one behaves or thinks good, there will be joy in the future, albeit possibly in the next life. It also states that if one behaves or thinks evil (greed, arrogance, and self love), suffering or obstacles will appear in the future.

One can get hurt by the truth (causality). Suffering or obstacles are the result of our past evil actions and thoughts; we reap what we have sowed. But causality also gives us an opportunity to set ourselves free from evil (greed, arrogance, and self love). It gives us the opportunity to free our minds of evil. If we face our obstacles and sufferings with a positive attitude, by the principle of causality, we can have a joyous future. But many of us succumb to our sufferings and challenges, and continue to think and act evil. This continues the cycle of suffering. It is a difficult path to purify our minds, but understanding the truth, can set you free.